After Jiang Shangpiao was certain that there were no issues on his side, he put on a look of helplessness. "Lianhua, don't be willful. I know your disciple was injured in an assassination attempt, and you're in a bad mood, but this truly has nothing to do with me."
"Didn't I tell you that I want to roam the martial world with you and no longer concern myself with the affairs of this mortal realm?"
The Lotus Cult Master snorted coldly and shook the short knife in her hand. "Then why did you have Shen You look for Duobang? Why did Duobang enter Wanniian City? Are you trying to help my disciple get rid of these villains?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of panic flashed in Jiang Shangpiao's eyes. Although it was fleeting, it did not escape the Lotus Cult Master's notice.
Seeing this, the Lotus Cult Master's heart sank halfway. From that single glance, she knew that this matter was likely related to her beloved Jiang Shangpiao.
With this thought, the Lotus Cult Master, without another word, immediately slashed the short knife across Jiang Shangpiao's left arm.
"Senior Brother, you know my methods. If you don't tell me the truth..."
A chill ran down Jiang Shangpiao's spine.
He certainly knew the Lotus Cult Master's methods.
His junior sister, when she acted, was ruthless and reckless.
So, he had to hold on. Thinking this, he sighed again. "Alas, Lianhua, since you don't believe me, I have nothing more to say. Kill me or flay me as you wish."
After speaking, Jiang Shangpiao closed his eyes.
The Lotus Cult Master certainly understood Jiang Shangpiao's tactics.
She smiled slightly, raised her hand, and cut his lower leg. Then, she stood up.
"Jingfeng has already obtained the antidote. She is out of danger. Xiao An is dead, and I don't care."
"Now, I'll give you a chance. If you tell the truth, I can let you go. If you still refuse to speak, you can only wait for death. Your blood will likely run dry in about half an hour."
After speaking, the Lotus Cult Master turned and walked out.
Jiang Shangpiao knew that the Lotus Cult Master was capable of anything. Since she had said this, she would indeed let him bleed to death without any treatment.
But then he thought, if he were to die like this, it would be too unjust.
"Lianhua, is what you said true? Will you let me off?"
The Lotus Cult Master nodded. "I said earlier that I don't care about Xiao An's life or death, as long as Jingfeng is alright."
Hearing this, Jiang Shangpiao gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble. He gambled that the Lotus Cult Master still had some genuine feelings for him and might truly let him go.
Driven by a strong desire to survive, Jiang Shangpiao decided to speak the truth. He sighed. "Lianhua, I originally intended to bear this burden myself, but since you've traced it back to me, I'll tell you the truth."
"Yes, the killer who killed Xiao An and injured Xiao Jingfeng, Huang Wu, is my friend, Huang Wu."
"It's a pity that Huang Wu was not skilled enough and was captured by Bai Han and the others. He is already dead."
"Jiang Shangpiao, why did you do this? Don't you know she is my disciple?" the Lotus Cult Master exclaimed in a near-roar.
"Of course, I know she is your disciple, which is why I didn't do it myself."
With that, Jiang Shangpiao let out a long sigh towards the sky. "To avenge the massacre of my entire family of twenty-three people, I endured for a long time. I even didn't hesitate to betray my country and go to the Great Tu Kingdom. Now that my great revenge has been achieved, my wish is fulfilled. Kill me or flay me as you wish!"
"You, why do you say that?" Now it was the Lotus Cult Master's turn to be surprised. In her memory, Jiang Shangpiao was an orphan. How could he have a grievance of his entire family being massacred?
Jiang Shangpiao looked at her, gritted his teeth, and said word by word, "That's right, the one who killed my entire family was none other than this Xiao An. My father was a low-ranking officer stationed at the border. Later, because he suffered a defeat, Xiao An, in his rage, beheaded everyone. Because my father was the leader of the retreat, my entire family was executed. Fortunately, a soldier who narrowly escaped couldn't bear to see my family annihilated and secretly sent a message. My mother hastily made me hide in a cave outside the village, and that's how I survived."
"Later, I became a street urchin and met my master. My master took me to the mountain and taught me martial arts. I was afraid of causing trouble for my master, so I kept my origins secret and claimed to be an orphan!"
Hearing Jiang Shangpiao's words, the Lotus Cult Master couldn't help but shed tears.
"Senior Brother, is everything you've said true?"
Jiang Shangpiao said through gritted teeth, "Feel free to hand me over. I believe the imperial court will give you a large reward."
"I only hope that, for the sake of our past closeness, you will buy a cheap wooden coffin to bury me."
After speaking, Jiang Shangpiao fell silent.
The Lotus Cult Master suddenly burst into tears. She ran to the side and pounded the table fiercely. "Why, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"If you wanted to kill, you should have killed Xiao An. Why did you have to harm my disciple? Don't you know that Jingfeng is the most like me among all my disciples?"
"Yes, I know you dote on the princess. But have you ever thought about it? My mother was already five or six months pregnant at the time, yet the imperial court showed her no mercy. She eventually lost her head. Who pitied my mother then?"
The Lotus Cult Master was silent for a moment. Finally, she stepped forward, tore off a strip of her clothing, and treated the wounds on Jiang Shangpiao's leg and arm. Then, she swung her knife and cut the ropes binding him to the bed.
"Brother Jiang, you should leave. Go as far away as possible. The imperial court has already found some clues and is searching for your disciple Shen You."
"Although I am reluctant to see you go, I cannot overlook the matter of you harming Jingfeng."
After speaking, the Lotus Cult Master stood up, thrust the short knife in her hand fiercely into the table, and then quickly departed.
After the Lotus Cult Master left, Jiang Shangpiao did not hesitate. With a carp flip, he jumped up from the bed. Then, with another leap, he landed on the table, turned his back to the knife the Lotus Cult Master had just stuck in it, and quickly cut the ropes on his hands with a few swift movements.
Jiang Shangpiao stretched his limbs and looked at the room with lingering reluctance. He knew that from this moment on, he and Tang Lianhua were on completely separate paths.
If there were ever another confrontation between them, he believed the Lotus Cult Master would show him no mercy.
Jiang Shangpiao left in a hurry, while Tang Lianhua was weeping uncontrollably in the adjacent room.
Shen Ziyan watched from the window as Jiang Shangpiao disappeared into the crowd on the street outside. Only then did she turn and gently pat the Lotus Cult Master's shoulder.
"Senior Sister, he's gone."
The Lotus Cult Master looked up and wiped away her tears. "From now on, Jiang Shangpiao is my enemy. If we ever meet again, I will definitely pursue him for harming my disciple."
Shen Ziyan nodded, extended her hand to the Lotus Cult Master, and said resolutely, "Me too. I, Shen Ziyan, will also seek revenge from him."
The two women clasped their hands tightly.
After a brief rest, Shen Ziyan went to see Chen Xiaobei.